Page 84 of Out of the Dark
Epilogue
Jillian
Brooklyn and I satknee-to-knee, with our shoulders pressed together, and hands clutched with each other as we watched Rand take the checked flag at the final race of the NASCAR season sitting up in Rand’s pit box. We sprang from our seats at the same time we heard Rand and the rest of his team screaming through our headphones. Not only did he just win the race, but he also won the championship, and Hutch had helped him do that.
A couple of days after Hutch had proposed to me, Rand had called him up and asked him if he was interested in working for him. It wasn’t just any job either; it was the job of crew chief since the one that Rand originally had needed to step down on short notice due to an illness. It was also the main reason that Rand had been trying so desperately hard to get a hold of Hutch while he had been in recovery. Despite having only met once, and sharing a few texts since they had met, Rand only wanted to hire Hutch.
It turns out that Rand had been so impressed with Hutch’s work when he came to visit that he had been trying to get him into the business, and when the job had opened up, he wasted no time in reaching out. I had to poke Hutch a little to go check out the job, take a trip down to North Carolina since that was where the job was based and where we would be living, but once we realized what a big deal this would be for us, as a family, Hutch jumped at the opportunity.
I loved North Carolina, and so did Hazel. She took to it like a fish in water, and I think part of that had to do with RJ Shepard, Brooklyn and Rand’s son, who took her under his wing, and made sure she was never left out of anything. She was instantly included with his circle of friends, and that was a big relief for both of us. I had been able to sell the ballet studio rather quickly, and even though I missed dancing, I didn’t miss it enough to start up a business again. I taught a couple of classes at a local studio in North Carolina, which was honestly much easier and a lot less stressful. The kids were great, the pay wasn’t too bad; and Sully told me she had been talking me up to some of the other NASCAR wives, mentioning how they should come down to check it out. One thing I quickly learned was how supportive the racing community was.
“You should go be with your husband,” I told Brooklyn once we had climbed down from the pit box, nudging her playfully. “This is kind of a big deal.”
Brooklyn grinned at me. “You think?” She glanced over her shoulder where Rand’s team surrounded him and some of the other drivers, had started to gather, congratulating him. Then she hugged me and took off to go to her man. I chuckled as I watched, happy for my friend, my man, and Rand, who still scared the shit out of me despite giving us a fresh start, and watched as Hutch caught my eye. He was still up in the pit box, looking serious and a little nervous because there would be interviews coming his way, too. He had his headphones down around his neck, and his trucker hat that bared Rand’s number on it, on backward as he scanned over the screens in front of him. Crew chief was a big deal. He had to work with the spotters, keep the driver focused on the track, analyze lap times, fuel mileage, pit-stop strategy, and everything else that went on during the race. Any mistake, no matter how small, could ruin the chance for a win; never mind a great finish.
I noticed how handsome he looked in the shirt he wore with Rand’s sponsor and number decorated all over it, the tan he had acquired now that he was out in the sun so much more prominent that ever. His blond hair curled slightly under his ears and I felt my heart swell with pride. Hutch glanced around the still busy and packed track before he looked down to catch my eye, bringing his hand up to his heart to form the sign he always gestured to tell me he loved me. I blew him a kiss before he quickly climbed down so he could grab me around the waist.
“Hey,” he whispered planting a kiss against my lips. He swung me around before he gently placed me back on my feet.
I stared up at him with hearts in my eyes. “Hey yourself,” I teased, watching the smile spread across his perfect face. “You know, they’re going to want you in the pictures, baby, you’re part of the team,” I reminded him.
As much fun as Hutch had helping with the cars, he didn’t like being in the spotlight. He had done countless interviews since Rand had started dominating the series, and Hutch had told me how much he hated every single minute being in front of the camera or behind the microphone. The asked him questions they shouldn’t, pushed too much, got too personal, but Hutch was always professional, polite, and courteous. Only once did Rand tell someone to fuck off when they tried to pry into Hutch’s background, when they were being interviewed together, and I thought for sure Rand was going to lay the guy out for it. I wouldn’t call them best friends, but they were close.
“I know.”
“You okay?”
Hutch still had his dark days. The ones where he could hardly get out of bed, didn’t want to talk to me or anyone else, but luckily, those days were few and far between. Megan had recommended a fantastic therapist whom Hutch saw in North Carolina when he could, but had Zoom meetings when he was on the road. I wasn’t sure how much Rand knew about Hutch’s past, if anything at all, but something told me his past was just as dark, maybe even darker.
“I’m a little overwhelmed, but otherwise really fucking good, Jilly,” he assured me, pulling me into another hug. “This is insane though, right?” His voice rumbled against my face, and I could tell he was trying hard to control his emotions. “That I helped Rand Shepard win his first championship.” He pulled back to look down into my eyes. “When this is over, the celebrating, everything else that comes with it”—he pressed a hand against my cheek—“we’re setting a date.”
Hutch’s divorce with Madison was finalized just a couple of days ago as well as her giving up her any parental rights to Hazel. How someone could do that to their own flesh and blood, I would never know, but I was happy to say Hutch asked me to adopt her as my own, which I agreed to without a second thought. Hazel already started calling me mom months ago without any convincing from our sides, and I loved her like my own daughter.
“Are you sure?” I wanted to marry Hutch just as much I needed the air to breathe. “I don’t want to rush you into another marriage if you’re not ready.”
Hutch only smiled at me. “Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.” His mouth found mine as we both heard someone call his name. “I fucking love you so much, Jilly.” He confessed.
“I love you too, Hutch,” I said, with butterflies racing through my veins. “Hey, uh, how do you feel about more kids?” I blurted as my nerves got the best of me.
